{"operation":"document","citation":"16-0205","title":"W. T Bell International Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2017-04-13","effective_on":null,"summary":"16-0205 response to W. T Bell International Inc. concerning 173.62.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0205.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0205.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0205","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2017/160205.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nof Transportation\nU.S. Department\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nMaterials Safety\nPipeline and Hazardous\nAdministration\nAPR 1 3 2017\nJames G. Rairigh\nVice President\nW. T. Bell International, Inc.\n8811 Emmott, #1900\nHouston, TX 77040\nReference No. 16-0205\nDear Mr. Rairigh:\nThis letter is in response to your December 22, 2016, letter requesting clarification of the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to packaging\nrequirements for explosives. You provide a scenario where an approval, EX 2013040288,\nclassifies certain radial shaped charges as UN0440 when packaged in accordance with the\napproval. Packing instruction 137 is assigned to UN0440 in § 173.62, and it requires an\norientation mark for conical shaped charges. Specifically, you seek confirmation of your\nrequirements in § 173.62.\nunderstanding that the packaging description in EX 2013040288 takes precedence over the\nThe answer is yes. The competent authority approval issued by the Associate Administrator for\nHazardous Materials Safety is the definitive statement of proper shipping name, identification\nnumber, and classification code for explosives. The approval document may also contain\nadditional stipulations, including packaging requirements. Any packaging information contained\nin the approval document takes precedence over the requirements contained in the Table of\nPacking Methods in § 173.62. Therefore, radial shaped charges transported under\nEX 2013040288 must be packaged in accordance with the methods specified in this approval and\nare not subject to packing instruction 137 in § 173.62.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\nlenaster\nT. Glenn Foster\nChief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nKiehman\n173.602\nGoodall, Shante CTR (PHMSA)\nSpeake Packasis\nRegiments\nFrom:\n16 - 0205\nSent:\nINFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nTo:\nTuesday, December 27, 2016 3:01 PM\nSubject:\nHazmat Interps\nAttachments:\nFW: Interpretation Request\nEnclosures.pdf; Letter to PHMSA 12-22-16.pdf\nHi Shante/Alice,\nPlease submit this as a letter of interpretation. Please let me know if you have any questions.\nThanks,\nEamonn\nFrom: Tina Yates [mailto:tina.wtbii@hughes.net]\nSent: Thursday, December 22, 2016 7:50 PM\nTo: PHMSA HM InfoCenter <PHMSAHMInfoCenter@dot.gov>\nCc: JRairigh@aol.com\nSubject: Interpretation Request\nDear Sir or Madam,\nAttached please find our Request for interpretation as well as supporting documents.\nThank you in advance for your help,\nTina@wtbell.com / (936) 344-2225 / (936) 355-9825\nTina W. Yates / Materials & Compliance Manager\nwww.wtbell.com\nW. T. Bell International, inc.\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, Southeast\nEssl Bullding, PHH--32\nMaterials Safety Administration\nPipeline and Hazardous\nThe US Departmeat of Transportation\nWashington, D.C. 20580\nCompetent Authority for the United States\nCLASSIFICATION OF EXPLOSIVES\nBased upon a request by W.T. Bell International, Inc., 2534B FM 1375 East, Huntsville,\nTX 77340, United States the following items are classed in accordance with Section\n173.56, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR). A copy of your application, all\navailable to DOT upon request.\nsupporting documentation and a copy of this approval must be retained and made\nUN. PROPER SHIPPING NAME AND NUMBER:\nCharges, shaped, without detonator, UN0440\nU.N, CLASSIFICATION CODE: 1.4D\nEX2013040288\nREFERENCE NUMBER\nPRODUCT DESIGNATION/PART NUMBER\nD/N: 301-IP-DOT, P/N's: 1580T101PA, 1680S001,\n1680T001PA, 1813S001, 1900S001, 20638001,\n2063T001PA, 2125S001, 2125T001PA, 2250S001,\n2250T001PA, 25008101, 2500T101PA and\n2750S101\nNOTES: This classification is only valid for shape charges with net explosive weight not\nmore than 38 grams, when packaged as follows: Inner Paokaging - Bags, plastic\nhermetically sealed, each containing a single unit pre-wrapped in anti-static polyethylene\nfoam and bubble wrap. Outer Packaging - UN 4G fiberboard box with double corrugated\nfiberboard padding liner (thickness not less than ¼ inch each) and double corrugated\nfiberboard pads (thickness not less than 2 inches each) at both ends, each containing a\nsingle inner packaging.\nDATED: 06/18/2013\nFor Dr. Magdy El-Sibaie\nAssociate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety\nTracking No: 2013040459\nPage 1 of 1\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nof Transportation\nU.S. Department\n400 Seventh Street, S.W.\nPipeline and\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nAdministration\nHazardous Materials Safety\nAPR 12 2005\nMr. Paul Shelton\nHazmat Seminars\nRef No.: 05-0033\nPost Office Box 6122\nOak Ridge, Tennessee 37831\nDear Mr. Shelton:\nThis responds to your January 26, 2005 letter requesting clarification of the packaging\nrequirements for explosives contained in § 173.62 of the Hazardous Materials\nRegulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you ask if shippers are free to\nutilize any option provided in the referenced packing instruction for an explosive,\nassuming there is no packaging specified in the approval letter, even when that option\ndiffers from the configuration in which classification testing was conducted.\nThe competent authority approval issued by the Associate Administrator for Hazardous\nMaterials Safety is the definitive statement of proper shipping name, identification\nnumber, and classification code for new explosives. The approval document may also\ncontain additional stipulations, including packaging requirements. Any packaging\ninformation contained in the approval document takes precedence over the requirements\ncontained in the Table of Packing Methods in § 173.62. If the approval does not contain\nspecific packaging requirements, the explosive must be packaged as prescribed in the\nTable of Packaging Methods found in § 173.62. In these instances, you may utilize any\npackaging configuration authorized by the packing instruction for the explosive.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if you require additional assistance.\nSincerely,\nJohn A. Gale\nChief, Standards Development\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n173.62\n050033\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nHAZMAT SEMINARS\nOAK RIDGE, TENNESSEE 37831\nPOST OFFICE BOX 6122\nSupko\n007/RSPA/\nCERTIFIED MAIL NO. 8708 3240\n8173.62\nOSFEB -7 PM\nRETURY RECEIPT REQUESTED\nPackaging of\nJanuary 26, 2005\n05 FEB - 7:\nChief, Interpretations\nExplosives\nDOT/RSPA/OHMS\nResearch and Special Programs Administration\n05-0033\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nPM 4: 48\nHA!?\n400 Seventh Street, SW\nWashington, DC 20590\nRe: 49 CFR 173 Subpart C:\nPackaging of Explosives\nI am an instructor in hazardous materials transportation regulations, including the DOT\nRegulations applicable to the classification, packaging, and transportation of explosives.\nPacking Methods in §173.62.\nAn issue has arisen in several classes concerning the flexibility provided by the Table of\nadditional requirements or limitations in the document, frequently stipulating packaging\nwhich much be utilized for commercial transport. Where such stipulations differ from\nclassification document takes precedence over the Table.\nprovisions in the Table of Packing Methods in §173.62, it is understood that the\nThe question concerns those situations in which the new explosive classification\ndocument is silent on packaging requirements, and the identification number is used to\nreference a packing instruction in §173.62. In such situatiors, are shippers free to utilize\nany option provided in the referenced packing instruction, even when that option differs\nfrom the configuration in which classification testing was conducted?\nIt would appear from the plain language of the Regulations that, absent a prescription or\nlimitation in the classification document, unrestricted use of the Table of Packing\nMethods is allowed. If this is not correct, please advise of the correct interpretation.\nThank you for your assistance.\nPaul Shelton\nHAZMAT SEMINARS\nTELEPHONE: (865) 693-2837 • FAX: (865) 470-4444\n\n<<<PAGE 6>>>\n\nW. T. Bell International\nan explosives specialty group\n8811 EMMoTT, SuITE 1900\nHOUSTON, TX 77040\n(713) 306-1262\nRairigh@aol.com\nU.S. DOT\nPHMSA Office of Hazardous Materials Standards\nAttn: PHH-10\nEast Building\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590-0001\n22 December 2016\nMr. Jim Rairigh\nVice President\n8811 Emmott, #1900\nW.T. Bell International, Inc.\nHouston, TX 77040\nDear Sir or Madam:\nOne of our shaped charge products, UN0440, was recently rejected by the carrier because it did not\ncomply with 49 CFR §173.62, packaging instruction 137. The specific reason for rejecting our shipment\nwas that our package contained a single shaped charge but did not have an orientation label (\"THIS SIDE\nthe approval letter's, EX2013040288, packaging note. Our understanding of the hazardous materials\nUP\") as required by the packaging instruction. However, the package and its labeling fully complied with\ngeneral directions contained in the CFR's packaging instruction, see PHMSA ref. no. 050033.\nregulations is that the directions contained in the packaging note shall be used in preference to the\nThe subject shaped charge is a radial shaped charge known in the field as a \"pipe cutter.\" As such the\nshaped charge effect covers a full 360 degrees. Because of this geometry there is no orientation in\nwhich all of the jet will act in a downward direction. The orientation requirement of packaging\ninstruction 137 is therefore ineffectual for radial shaped charges. The orientation requirement is only\neffectual for conical and linear shaped charges, both of which act only in one direction.\npackage?\nWere we correct in offering our product for transport without the orientation label affixed to the\nFor future shipments, should our package have an orientation label affixed to it?\nSincerely,\nJames G. Rairigh\nJim Rairigh\nVice President\nEnclosures (2)\n\n<<<PAGE 7>>>\n\nof Transportation\nU.S. Department\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nMaterials Safety\nPipeline and Hazardous\nAdministration\nAPR 1 3 2017\nJames G. Rairigh\nVice President\nW. T. Bell International, Inc.\n8811 Emmott, #1900\nHouston, TX 77040\nReference No. 16-0205\nDear Mr. Rairigh:\nThis letter is in response to your December 22, 2016, letter requesting clarification of the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to packaging\nrequirements for explosives. You provide a scenario where an approval, EX 2013040288,\nclassifies certain radial shaped charges as UN0440 when packaged in accordance with the\napproval. Packing instruction 137 is assigned to UN0440 in § 173.62, and it requires an\norientation mark for conical shaped charges. Specifically, you seek confirmation of your\nrequirements in § 173.62.\nunderstanding that the packaging description in EX 2013040288 takes precedence over the\nThe answer is yes. The competent authority approval issued by the Associate Administrator for\nHazardous Materials Safety is the definitive statement of proper shipping name, identification\nnumber, and classification code for explosives. The approval document may also contain\nadditional stipulations, including packaging requirements. Any packaging information contained\nin the approval document takes precedence over the requirements contained in the Table of\nPacking Methods in § 173.62. Therefore, radial shaped charges transported under\nEX 2013040288 must be packaged in accordance with the methods specified in this approval and\nare not subject to packing instruction 137 in § 173.62.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\nlenaster\nT. Glenn Foster\nChief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division","truncated":false,"body_characters":11710}